Road · United Arab Emirates
Coast to Coast: Sharjah to Al Aqah
A rolling 216 km road cycling route from Coast to Coast: Sharjah to Al Aqah through Al Mamzar, Al Qasimia and Wahala, with 1,117 m of climbing. Most of it (185.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 117.6 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 57 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 91–148).
At a glance
- Best for
- Long endurance days for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 215.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,117 m
- Riding time
- 7½–10½ hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 57 km
- Best months
- Dec to Mar
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Coast → Coast: Sharjah to Al Aqah
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,117 m
- 216 km
Route description
- Coast
- Al Mamzar
- Al Qasimia
- Wahala
- Al Bardi
- Al Mughaider
- Ghalala
- Qurayyah
- Khor Fakkan
- Coast: Sharjah to Al Aqah
Starting from Sharjah, the route heads through multiple suburbs including Al Mamzar, Al Nahda, and Al Khan before moving towards Al Majaz and Al Jubail. The road surface is 97% paved, with a mixture of motorways (46%), major roads (28%), and some quiet streets and minor roads. The route features the Sharjah - Kalba Road for 55 km and Maleha Road for 38.2 km.
Climbing begins around 90.5 km with two moderate climbs reaching elevations of 366 m and 471 m respectively, averaging gradients of 2.6-2.9%. The profile includes 8% climbing and 10% descending, with some steep sections over 5% totaling 2.4 km. The highest point is 487 m at 99.8 km. There is a long descent of 6.6 km dropping 169 m from 100.8 km.
Food and drink options are available early on within 20 km and later at 150.4 km and 161.1 km. Shops and supermarkets appear at various points like 7.1 km, 13.3 km, and 153.1 km. There is a 56.5 km stretch with no café, shop, or water between 91.1 km and 147.6 km. Several petrol stations and bike shops also lie along the route. The finish at Al Aqah offers restaurants and fast food options.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 487 m, 99.8 km in.
- A 6.6 km descent dropping 169 m.
Highlights
- Hajar Mountains region
- Climbs between 90.5 km and 99.5 km
- Sharjah - Kalba Road for 55 km
- Long 6.6 km descent from 100.8 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 90.5 km | 3.4 km · 99 m · 2.9 % · max 4.7 % | 366 m |
| Unnamed climb | 95.7 km | 3.8 km · 97 m · 2.6 % · max 5.1 % | 471 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 86% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 117.6 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 46% motorway · 28% major road · 13% main road · 5% quiet street · 8% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 185.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 117.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Sharjah - Kalba Road (55 km), Maleha Road (38 km), Port Road (9 km), Corniche Road (7 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved and 3% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 8% climbing · 10% descending · 82% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.4 km over 5% · 0.8 km over 8% · 0.7 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 10.1% at 125.4 km
- Longest descent
- 6.6 km from 100.8 km, dropping 169 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 57 km, from km 91 to 148. Along the route: 426 cafés and restaurants, 241 shops, 1 water point, 25 petrol stations, 20 public toilets and 11 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 7.1 kmSharjah Coop · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 8.9 kmAlpha Pharmacy · pharmacy · 100 m off route
- 13.3 kmIstanbul · supermarket · 120 m off route
- 15.2 kmToilets · 130 m off route
- 18.6 kmAl Mudheef Al Jadeed · café · on the route
- 19.1 kmAl Shamikh · bike shop · 110 m off route
- 29.5 kmNesto Hypermarket · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 59.2 kmAl Muntather · café · 150 m off route
- 76.2 kmAl Meliha Health Centre Sharjah · clinic · 130 m off route
- 77.6 kmAin Alseeh Cafe · café · 80 m off route
- 104.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 150.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 161.1 kmTamm Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 164.1 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 166.9 kmSingle Origin · café · 70 m off route
- 169.6 kmENOC · petrol station · 100 m off route
- 186.3 kmAl Madha Petrol · petrol station · 120 m off route
- 196 kmPizza Hut · restaurant · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 170.5 km — Fujairah Station (station), 560 m off route
Worth a stop
- 5 km — Ali Bin Rashid Square (castle)
- 34.1 km — Sheikha naama (viewpoint)
- 136.2 km — Wahla Fort (castle)
- 147.6 km — Wildlife observation (viewpoint)
- 160.6 km — Kalba Fort (castle)
- 164.1 km — Bull fighting (Bullring) (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Fujairah Rotana · hotel · 180 m from the finish
- Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort · hotel · 180 m from the finish
- InterContinental Fujairah Resort · hotel · 350 m from the finish
- Naama · hotel · 870 m from the finish
- Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort · hotel · 770 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- estacoza seafood (240 m), Subway (310 m), Sapore (260 m)
Know before you go
- 56.5 km no café, shop or water from 91.1 km to 147.6 km
- 185.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 117.6 km on roads with 80 km/h+ limits
